Modular lighting fixture

ABSTRACT

A modular lighting fixture having a polygonal mounting pan whereby two or more such fixtures may be easily joined together to form an array of fixtures. In any such array, only one fixture is secured to the outlet box on ceiling or wall with all other fixtures being physically coupled to it and electrically coupled through it.

United States Patent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,625,646 l/1953 Goebel 240/9 3,218,446 11/1965 Langer 240/9 (X) PrimaryExaminer-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Richard L. MosesAttorney-Seidel and Gonda ABSTRACT: A modular lighting fixture having apolygonal mounting pan whereby two or more such fixtures may be easilyjoined together to form an array of fixtures. In any such array, onlyone fixture is securedto the outlet box on ceiling or wall with allother fixtures being physically coupled to it and electrically coupledthrough it.

Inventors Julius Friedman Levittown; Carl WellhofenGlenside, both of,Pa. Appl. No. 769,783 Filed Oct. 23, 1968 Patented June 15, 1971Assignee Lighting Corporation of America Philadelphia, Pa.

MODULAR LIGHTING FIXTURE 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 240/78, 240/9, 240/128 Int. Cl F2ls 1/06, F 2 ls l/ l 4 Field ofSearch 240/78, 143,10, 9, 128, 126, 78 CF, 78 D, 78 F, 78 G, 78 LDPATENIED JUN 1 5 ISYI SHEET 1 0F 2 INVENTORS JUL/US FRIEDMAN CARLWELLHOFER ATTORNEYS PATENIED Jun. 5 I971 SHEET 2 OF 2 MODULAR LIGHTINGFIXTURE This invention is directed to a modular lighting fixture. Thefixture has a polygonal-shaped mounting pan having an upstanding rim.Two or more such fixtures may be easily joined together to form an arrayof fixtures. In any such array, only one fixture is secured to theoutlet box on the ceiling or wall. All other fixtures in the array aresatellite fixtures physically connected to the rim of the pan of saidone fixture. Also, all satellite fixtures are electrically coupledthrough the pan of the main fixture and secured to supporting surface bya toggle bolt or wood screw. In this manner, any combination of fixturesmay be butt-mounted in different locations to form a pleasing multiplelight ceiling or wall pattern.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel modularlighting fixture.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an array ofmodular lighting fixtures which are easily coupled together while beingsimple, inexpensive to manufacture, and easy to assemble.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. For the purpose of illustratingthe invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presentlypreferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is notlimited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. I is a sectional view ofa lighting fixture in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an array of lighting fixtures of thetype illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals indicate likeelements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a lighting fixture designatedgenerally as 10. Fixture includes a polygonal pan 12. For purposes ofillustration, pan 12 is octagonal. Pan I2 is provided with an upstandingrim 14 around its entire periphery.

Pan 12 is provided with a centrally disposed opening 16 through whichextends the body of a socket 18. A socket sleeve 20 is disposed belowthe pan I2 and is threadedly coupled to the outer periphery of body 18.Body 18 is provided with a flange 22 which overlies a portion ofthe pan12.

A bowl support member 24 is provided with a radially inwardly extendingflange 26. Flange 26 is maintained in position by being clamped betweenpan 12 and the sleeve 20. Pan 12 is provided with a depression 27surrounding the hole I6. Depression 27 centers the member 24 withrespect to the socket body 18.

Member 24 supports a bowl 32. Bowl 32 may be translucent or transparentand is generally made from a vitreous material such as glass. Bowl 32 isprovided with an opening at one end so that it may circumscribe the bulbsupported by the socket body 18. To facilitate supporting the bowl fromthe member 24, bowl 32 is provided with an outwardly directed lip 34. Aplurality of thumb screws 36 are threadedly coupled to member 24 andhave their innermost end positioned so as to be beneath the lip 34 andthereby support the bowl 32 from member 24.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, the rim 14 of fixture 10includes walls40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52 and 54. At least two of the walls andpreferably every other wall is provided with a hole. Thus, walls 40, 44,48 and 52 are provided with a hole 56 therethrough.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of fixtures 60, 62, and 64 are providedidentical with fixture 10. All of the fixtures may be interconnected toform an array. Only fixture 10 will be connected to an outlet box ofawall or ceiling supporting surface. Plate 38 facilitates such mountingof the fixture 10 to the outlet box. Means are provided for physicallycoupling the fix tures 6064 to the fixture 10. As shown more clearly inFIG. 3, fixtures 10 and 60 are physically interconnected by means of thehollow bolt 68 which extends through the hole 56 in the mating walls offixtures l0 and 60. A lock nut 70 is threadedly coupled to the shank ofbolt 68.

Jumper wires 72 may be extended from the outlet box through the hollowbolt 68 to the wires of each of the fixtures 6064. Thus, each of thesatellite fixtures 6064 is electrically coupled to the outlet boxthrough the central fixture 10. If desired, fixture 10 could bephysically and electrically coupled to the fixtures 60 and 64 so as toform a simulated rectangle with the fixtures. A greater or lesser numberof fixtures may be interconnected in an array as desired.

The pan 12 is provided with apair of holes through which the bolts 28and 30 extend to secure the fixture to an outlet box. 0n fixtures 6064,a toggle bolt 66 extends through one of these holes to also secure thesefixtures on the ceiling or wall. It will be apparent that each pan inplan view is a regular octagon wherein all sides are of the same size.Hereinafter, bolt 66 may be referred to as a screw means.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rim is provided with knockout slugs 75 which areremovable to define the holes 56. On fixtures 6064, only one of theslugs 75 need be removed to enable assembly of the array shown in FIG.2.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of theinvention.

We claim:

I. A modular lighting fixture array comprising a main fixture and atleast one satellite fixture, each fixture including a polygonal panhaving an upstanding rim, a light socket supported by the pan, a bowlsupport member depending from the pan in surrounding relation to thesocket, a bowl supported by said bowl support member, bolt means rigidlyinterconnecting one wall of the upstanding rim of each fixture, saidbolt means being hollow so that jumper wires from an outlet box mayextend through the main fixture and said bolt means to the satellitefixture.

2. An array in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of said fixturesincludes a pan which is octagonal in plan view and of the same size.

3. An array in accordance with claim 1 wherein each pan rim is definedby eight walls extending in a direction away from its respective bowl,and every other wall of the rim having a hole through which a bolt meansmay extend.

4. An array in accordance with claim 1 including a screw means on eachsatellite fixture for securing the same to a supporting surface, and athreaded member on said main fixture for securing the same to an outletbox on the supporting fixture.

5. A modular lighting fixture array in accordance with claim 1, whereinsaid bolt means comprises a single hollow bolt extending through centralportions of the interconnected walls.

6. A modular lighting fixture array comprising a main fixture and atleast one satellite fixture, each fixture including a polygonal panhaving an upstanding rim, a light socket supported by the pan, a bowlsupport member depending from the pan in surrounding relation to thesocket, a locating means for centering the bowl support member withrespect to the socket, a bowl supported by said bowl support member, onewall of the upstanding rim of each fixture being rigidly interconnectedby bolt means, said bolt means being hollow so that jumper wires from anoutlet box may extend through the main fixture and said bolt means tothe satellite fixture.

7. An array of fixtures in accordance with claim 6, wherein each of saidfixtures includes a pan which is octagonal in plan view and of the samesize.

8. A modular lighting fixture array comprising a main fixture and atleast one satellite fixture, each fixture including a polygonal panhaving an upstanding rim, a light socket supported by the pan, saidsocket being secured to the pan by means clamping the pan and the bowlsupport member between a surface of the socket and an annular sleevethreaded to the socket, a bowl supported by said bowl support member,one wall of the upstanding rim of each fixture being rigidlyinterconnected by bolt means, said bolt means being 9. An array offixtures in accordance with claim 8, wherein each of said fixturesincludes a pan which is octagonal in plan view and of the same size.

1. A modular lighting fixture array comprising a main fixture and atleast one satellite fixture, each fixture including a polygonal panhaving an upstanding rim, a light socket supported by the pan, a bowlsupport member depending from the pan in surrounding relation to thesocket, a bowl supported by said bowl support member, bolt means rigidlyinterconnecting one wall of the upstanding rim of each fixture, saidbolt means being hollow so that jumper wires from an outlet box mayextend through the main fixture and said bolt means to the satellitefixture.
 2. An array in accordance with claim 1 wherein each of saidfixtures includes a pan which is octagonal in plan view and of the samesize.
 3. An array in accordance with claim 1 wherein each pan rim isdefined by eight walls extending in a direction away from its respectivebowl, and every other wall of the rim having a hole through which a boltmeans may extend.
 4. An array in accordance with claim 1 including ascrew means on each satellite fixture for securing the same to asupporting surface, and a threaded member on said main fixture forsecuring the same to an outlet box on the supporting fixture.
 5. Amodular lighting fixture array in accordance with claim 1, wherein saidbolt means comprises a single hollow bolt extending through centralportions of the interconnected walls.
 6. A modular lighting fixturearray comprising a main fixture and at least one satellite fixture, eachfixture including a polygonal pan having an upstanding rim, a lightsocket supported by the pan, a bowl support member depending from thepan in surrounding relation to the socket, a locating means forcentering the bowl support member witH respect to the socket, a bowlsupported by said bowl support member, one wall of the upstanding rim ofeach fixture being rigidly interconnected by bolt means, said bolt meansbeing hollow so that jumper wires from an outlet box may extend throughthe main fixture and said bolt means to the satellite fixture.
 7. Anarray of fixtures in accordance with claim 6, wherein each of saidfixtures includes a pan which is octagonal in plan view and of the samesize.
 8. A modular lighting fixture array comprising a main fixture andat least one satellite fixture, each fixture including a polygonal panhaving an upstanding rim, a light socket supported by the pan, saidsocket being secured to the pan by means clamping the pan and the bowlsupport member between a surface of the socket and an annular sleevethreaded to the socket, a bowl supported by said bowl support member,one wall of the upstanding rim of each fixture being rigidlyinterconnected by bolt means, said bolt means being hollow so thatjumper wires from an outlet box may extend through the main fixture andsaid bolt means to the satellite fixture.
 9. An array of fixtures inaccordance with claim 8, wherein each of said fixtures includes a panwhich is octagonal in plan view and of the same size.